"The threat from climate change is serious, it is urgent, and it is growing. Our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it – boldly, swiftly, and together – we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe... the time we have to reverse this tide is running out."

"There are potential irreversible effects of melting the sea ice... We'll begin to release methane hydrates... There is enough there to cause as much warming as all the coal in the world... It's not clear that civilization could survive that extreme climate change."

History has conspired to place you at the presidential helm during a turning point moment of unprecedented global significance. The climate crisis preceded your presidency and will still be with us when it ends. But time is quickly running out to prevent this crisis from escalating beyond human control. The staggering record loss of Arctic ice seen this year is a clear sign that the forces of climate change have been set in motion. A growing chorus of scientists and experts believe we are sitting on the knife's edge of humanity's ability to mitigate or stop the growing threat.

When you chose to open your presidential campaign in Springfield, Illinois in 2008, you made a bold statement about your aspirations to the greatness of an Abraham Lincoln. The mark of a great president is to recognize the moral issue that transcends all others and take the actions which push history in a positive direction. Lincoln did so on the issue of slavery. In a speech to Congress in 1862, he said: "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew."

The call that beckons you is to recognize the unique, all-encompassing urgency associated with the need to prevent a global climate catastrophe. There is no higher mission you could possibly perform than to "rise to the occasion" by using your oratorical gifts to inspire humanity to turn back from the brink of oblivion.

While world attention has focused on human-generated carbon dioxide, a sleeping giant has been stirring in the Arctic. Frozen methane is thawing and releasing a global warming gas at least 30 times more powerful than CO2. There is more carbon energy in this methane than all the world's reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas combined. As both open water and methane push Arctic temperatures higher, even more methane is subject to thawing and release—creating the frightening prospect of an unstoppable "runaway" chain reaction, or feedback loop. In a frightening worst case scenario, the planet could be pressed toward a mass extinction event comparable to earlier ones that some scientists attribute (video) to large scale methane release.

In your 2009 speech to the UN you shared these uplifting words: "It is work that will not be easy... But difficulty is no excuse for complacency. Unease is no excuse for inaction... It is a journey that will require each of us to persevere through setback, and fight for every inch of progress."

It is clear why every single "inch of progress" has become a "fight". Though the survival of life on earth surely transcends partisan politics, a fossil fuel industry blinded and rendered senseless by corporate bottomlines has invested mountains of money to attack climate science and confuse the public. Are you willing to "persevere through setback" and speak truthfully by exposing these actions as nothing less than crimes against current and future generations?

History shows that the American people have responded positively to presidents who courageously took the moral high ground in response to soul-testing adversity. Seize your greatness as a president and the people will honor you. Polls show that a majority of the independent voters that campaign strategists say you need are actually with you on climate.

The decision that will be—in your own words—"judged by history" is in your hands. Will you act on behalf of our children and future generations before the "time to reverse the tide runs out"? The moment has come to end the silence.

In your 2008 campaign, you featured these words from Rev. Martin Luther King: "We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now."

However, you did not mention the warning that immediately followed, when King said: "There is such a thing as being too late... We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.'"

5 comments:

I second the letter to the President to say the least. But have knowledge that 1st Presidential debate failed to include mention of runaway heat front and center even in response to economic questions posed and certainly within bounds of answer to question on purpose of government. It warranted 1st mention..Gag order of self imposed censorship gripped all.But in light of what President Obama faces in wake of ongoing Propaganda from main stream media; and literally the harm done by money to corrupt things it's no wonder he must act with self restraint or- caution but I fear corruption has grasped the reigns of power. Compromise. Compromise is a death sentence for Earth. We need bold lie exposing leadership now and we enter this battle, this war with the leader we have as there is no other because o during first term is point of no return beyond which Global warming runaway will become insurmountable and permanently etched on the plaque above All civilization not written and not read, not morally judged by by hot sand. Hot sand and winds of time of the expired life of Earth and the host of answers to questions of all the life that came before, of all the ancestors and the whisper of hopes and dreams of all the children of all God's hopes large and small who would have had a chance. A chance of no greater honor than to live, to be alive today and to try and remedy past harm.. It is our duty and our hope, our purpose of life to make it so. Government has a duty to protect. To protect us from runaway global warming.. This is not some political big bird antidote -it is not someone saying the 47% remark was mistake, it is the essence of trying to keep life alive for all.. It's not path of politics to war; to heat rise belongs the properties of elements to trap heat that make up the sky,, to mankind belongs emotion and hope for the ultimate future if we who live today can make it so by getting the message out so..

Don't expect much of a response from President Obama on this-- at least until after the election. The election will be so close that he needs all the moderate undecided votes he can get. Even bringing up a topic like methane release would be political suicide. It's way too far off mainstream America's radar. Now, if Obama get's re-elected, he may pay attention and at least assign a scientific commission to "study" this, or he may take more direct action...but nothing until after the election.

Dale, you offer some amazing insight and R. Gates, you are right, I don't think anyone will touch methane release until after the election. We will see if tonight if the candidates even touch on the subject of climate change...

And Gary, this is an amazing letter and very well written, cuts right to the heart of the matter:-)

Chances of pulling a rabbit out of a hat to save Earth I think are about down the drain.. Here it is near years end after election and President is silent on trying to keep Arctic from melting off and release of methane at bay. Yikes

VideoBar

Global temperatures are rising fast. In the Arctic, temperatures are rising even faster (interactive charts below and right). For 2010 and 2011, NASA recorded anomalies of over 2°C at higher latitudes (64N to 90N), with anomalies of over 3°C at latitudes 79N and 81N in 2010.

For November 2010, anomalies of 12.5°C were recorded at latitude 71N, longitude -79 (Baffin Island, Canada). At specific moments in time and at specific locations, anomalies can be even more striking. As an example, on January 6, 2011, temperature in Coral Harbour, located at the northwest corner of Hudson Bay in the province of Nunavut, Canada, was 30°C (54°F) above average.